title: [The causes and consequences of the cellular death (apoptosis and necrosis) in the course of acute poisoning with carbon monoxide].
abstract: The flow cytometry is acquiring more and more clinical importance. Despite its wide application in diagnostics, it is not used commonly in the clinical toxicology. The goal of the current investigation was to evaluate the mechanism for cell death (apoptosis or necrosis) and its manifestation in circulating human lymphocytes exposed to toxic concentration of carbon monoxide (CO). Since the large subpopulation of leukocytes have undergone apoptosis the next step of the studies was to assess the mobilization of progenitor cells (CD 34+) occurring in the peripheral blood after CO intoxication. Data were compared with those of 25 healthy controls comparable in terms of age, gender and physical activity. The application of the method in clinical reasoning was also evaluated. Significantly increased apoptosis of the lymphocytes in research group compared to control individuals correlates with the poisoning severity but does not depend on hypoxia. Decreased number of leukocytes caused by the cytotoxic effect of CO, stimulates the release of the CD 34+ to the peripheral blood. Increased cell death seems to be the relevant mechanism in the pathophysiology of acute carbon monoxide poisoning--the delayed apoptosis as the consequence of the reoxygenation can influence the delayed neurological and cardiological sequelae in patients after acute CO poisoning. In order to improve the treatment and help choose best fitting therapy, there should be need to introduce the new diagnostic methods like flow cytometry or innovative imaging techniques to the standard diagnostics in clinical toxicology.
authors.affiliation: Zaklad Antropologii, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków. monika.guratowska@uj.edu.pl
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guratowska
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pach
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pach
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Groszek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D055815:Young Adult